Freckled Star

A prize.........

So I was thinkin' I need to do a little give away cause.......

well because they are fun:)

I think everyone knows I have quite the obsession with tote bags......

It has been an obsession since I was a little kid.....

I never just had one book bag for school. No I had more like 5 or six.....

When I had babies I didn't just have one diaper bag I had like 10!!!

What can I say I carry around a lot of important...............

STUFF yeah stuff that's right.

Well now that paper or plastic is becoming a thing of the past I have found myself in tote bag Nirvana:)

Here are just some of my favs..........

Ballard Designs

 

 

 

Williams Sonoma

 

 

Bushel and a Peck

 

 

Dogeared

 

Guess which one I bought.........

Leave your guess in my comments for this post only........

All of you who guess correctly will have your name go into some type of hat and drawn by the hand of one of my bambinos:)

So what's the prize????

One of this lady's tea towels, two of these from Maisy's Market. You pick the color you want:) And last but not least two 0f these!!

Good luck;)

I will pick a name on Tuesday!

Taking advantage.......

Of it NOT being 100+ degrees outside yet........

Just takin' it easy this morning.......

Lots of changes about to happen in my little rose colored world......

More on that later.....

So I decided to start up the laundry......

and the oven and make some of these lovlies:)

before my air kicks on.......

 

That's my dish from Tara. Perfect for 2 dozen cookies minus ummmm....2.

Here's the skinny.......

These are from Cooking Light the magazine circa 2004.

So they must make you skinny right??????????

Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Pecan Cookies (what an original name, geez with imagination like that I could work in the magazine business;)

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Need two bowls....

In one bowl combine:

1 1/4 cups whole wheat or all purpose flour

1 cup oatmeal (doesn't matter what type as long as it's not those microwave packets, by the way those are sooo gross)

3/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt ( VERY Important use kosher or sea salt and throw away your table salt)

Stir together. Set aside.

Next bowl:

3/4 cup sugar (any kind is fine but the super fine baking sugar rocks my world:)

1/2 cup brown sugar (pack it ladies)

1/3 cup butter, softened of course (again REAL butter)

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (REAL)

1 large egg (preferably cage free organic:)

Mix together.

Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into the wet. This will be a crumbly mixture. These are drop cookies so don't expect the dough to come together like Toll House:)

Mix in 1/4 cup each of smashed pecans and MINI (important) chocolate chips.

Drop tablespoons full on cookie sheet 2 inches apart.

10 minutes. Let cool.........well a little anyway:)

These are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Perfection:)

 

While I was waiting patiently for cookies I kind of reorganized my counter top and pantry:) I decided I paid way too much and my cutting boards are way too pretty to be sitting under my sink so I propped them up against the wall again. I use them everyday anyway. So they are staying out. I keep changing my mind! Also see the mason looking jar with the "1" on it. Pottery Barn yesterday. Online they say $39 for the set. But I just bought 1 and it was $12 so I don't know what the deal with that is. I knew I should have bought all three!!! I have walnuts in that one because I use them in my salads all week but I was thinking......"2" and "3" could hold almonds and pecans which I also use........

I like them!!

Looks like I may be going back today;)

Which means I should probably get dressed.........

(Do not ask me what my deal is with all this numbered crap lately. All I know is it's in the stores and if Anthro, Ballards and Pottery Barn are all looking to sell a bunch of junk to women in my demographic they just hit the bulls eye;) I mean it's NUMBERS for goodness sake. What the hell is wrong with me!!Somedays I think I am more nuts than all the walnuts in that stupid jar;)

One more thing.....

I worked on this on Tuesday while the cleaning ladies were here. I have absolutley no excuses not to get in my studio while they are here so I got this painted, covered in paper and sanded....

 

A little bucket and shovel book. I'll be embellishing and adding pictures today. Cute right? It's from Collective Journey over in Redlands. Just a little something.....

Have a wonderful weekend and stay out of my Pottery Barn until I buy those last 2 jars! Just kidding:) Maybe........

P.S. In case you are wondering those cookies are 71 calories each:)

Twitterpated.....

Of course now that I am not really selling Close to My Heart anymore they have come up with a NEW workshop program that totally blows the other one out of the water:( Oh well......

This is kinda cool because now they are selling actual kits instead of me having to buy everything in groups of ten! So you can still buy workshop kits if you'd like for $29.95. Plus now they include a special stamp set only available if you buy the kit. You save something like $5. Great deal! The first one is "twitterpated". Sooo cute!! And the little chipboard pieces in the NEW "Organic" collection are too adorable!! They make little mushroom and acorn embellishments. Love them:) This is all in the NEW Idea Book that becomes available September 1st.

Click this link for the flyer!

Print it out to see all the little details:)

Here is a sample........

 

Great kit for Fall and Back to School. I can't wait to go to the Pumpkin Patch and spend Thanksgiving up at the beach. This will be perfect:) I also can't wait to wear jeans again!!

If you are interested I can place an order for you anytime after September 1st. It will go directly to your home.

I will feature the "New" kit every 1st of the month. I jumped the gun a little on this one:) I still get excited!

I do have 8 of the NEW Idea Books available right now. They are $4. They can also be placed on an order if you would like one and I run out:)

Well I must be goin' I've got grocery shopping and picking up to do. Although my cleaning ladies come tomorrow (joy!) so I will restrain myself from cleaning my kids bathroom:) Darn and I so enjoy that.....

NOT!

Have a wonderful Monday;)

This is why......

I put on my running shoes when I get up because........

If I don't I sit down at my little computer and peruse.......

With a mug of hot chocolate in one hand and my mouse in the other.......

Click,click,click:)

My blog friend Blondie N SC opened up a cute little Etsy shop called Tara's Vintage Kitchen. Here are a couple of things I found today that ended up in my cart......

 

A sweet little glass dish and.......

 

I know, I know another Vintage cheese server! What can I say I LOVE these:)

Let's see what else........

 

A mermaid's cache supply kit. I can't wait to get this!! I feel another workshop coming on:) Birds of a Feather has some really cute stuff. Like little glittered birds and crepe paper garland. It's a new shop to me and I really adore it!

Then of course I can't go on Etsy without going into Teresa's Etsy shop. Where I bought 3 more tea towels. Can you say "addicted"????

 

You can't tell me that's not adorable!!

 

I know I need to stop but just one more......

 

Okay so I have like 20 now. But they are so cute and they wash so well and I use them everyday. I love seeing a fresh one draped over my sink when I get up in the morning. Just waiting to be used throughout the day:) I figure I can either spend $30 on paper towels at Costco every other week or invest in these.....

Duh obvious choice. Although I do still wipe down with a mean paper towel every now and again......

Last but not least.........

Ahhhhh jewelry......

 

I love hoops. And these simple little gold ones are just perfect. Kateszabone has some really beautiful jewelry. Simple and classic pieces. Her stackable rings are absolutely gorgeous. Maybe next time.....

See this is why I need to keep busy ALL THE TIME!! There are soooo many talented, beautiful ladies with shops on Etsy that I just can't control myself;)

Have a wonderful day. I will be on the curb waiting for the mailman......

Routines.....

Holy cow I can't believe it's Thursday already!!

But that's what happens when you get back into that school routine. The time just flies by.....

So I thought I would let you into my morning routine on this beautiful Thursday morning........

First I get up at roughly 5:15. Usually to a man getting out of bed, the sounds of an electric toothbrush and a shower being started. As soon as that shower starts I hear a dog in the hallway, right outside my door, get up do a shake, do a stretch and let out a huge yawn.

Said man gives me a hug and I say have a good day, he says call you later. Dog hears truck start and immediately jumps into bed with me. Naughty:)

Then I hear 2 little dogs down stairs scratching like mad women to be let out of their laundry room.

I have to get up........

I have to put on my excercise clothes because if I don't it's way too easy to stay in my comfy robe and have a mug of hot chocolate........

All dogs go out. Blinds and windows get opened and I let in all the fresh morning air. Turn off all porch lights. Mark my calendar;) Fill dog water bowls and my fountain. Get the dogs their treats. Girls come in and boys stay out......

Start a load of laundry or fold a load of laundry. Make my bed. Listen to dog whine outside. Throw on my running shoes.

Make lunches for kids.....

This is about the time I hear alarms going off and doors open and shutting....

They are AWAKE!!!

And so yet another day begins.........

A normal day like any other........

Only now with less than a year before deployment it seems much more important to me to give Frank that extra tight squeeze, tell my kids more than once to have a good day. Smile more, laugh more. Not sweat the small stuff but just appreciate the fact that I have a house to open up windows to let in that morning air, I live in a neighborhood that I can go walk my dog early in the morning and not worry about being harmed, that I have 2 healthy children that need to get to the bus and a older one that needs to get to work, grateful that he has a job in this day and age. Somedays my days go by so fast that before I know it a whole week has almost passed, that turns into a month (have you seen the Halloween decorations already!) and that in turn turns into a year. Somedays I think to myself next year at this time Frank will be gone. At this time in the morning here his day will almost be over there. Frank would say I think too much. And he would be right. It's not everyday because let's face it life often just happens and there is no time for reflection. But if I can just get in somedays for that reflection I will be happy. Sometimes I just have to STOP and smell the roses. It is such a beautiful life I have been given. Appreciation, thankful, grateful seem like such small words.

Enjoy all your blessings today!

Meet June.....

As in June Evelyn Bronson Cleaver.....

You know Wally and the Beaver's mom:)

June unfortunately was NOT $14.99 but so much fun just the same;)

 

Doesn't she just look like she wants to make you cookies! I watched "Leave it to Beaver" every Sunday after church when I was little. And although June did not remind me of my mother, my mother was slightly more messy and never wore an apron, she still symbolized what I thought motherhood should be. Granted Wally and the Beav were older when the show aired so we didn't get to see June all pressed and starched at 2 a.m. changing poopy diapers but just the same.......

I should have been a mom in the 50's. I think I would have had alot more friends and things would be so much simplier! I don't think the sleeping in twin beds would have been much fun though;) Read her home life and you'll get a laugh for the day:) And yes I do dress for house cleaning!!I also run a brush through my hair, put on lip gloss and change my shirt before Frank gets home. A habit I got into in the toddler years. When I was usually covered in fingerpaints and ketchup:)

 

 

Kinda cute huh? I have wanted one of these forever! I finally just had to say what the heck and throw her in my trunk;)

 

Well have a nice weekend. The man gets in tonight at 11p.m. He has been a grouch all week and he hasn't even been here!! Filling out enough emergency cards to make my hand cramp up, signing 50 pieces of paper from all Lindsay's classes (I think we are wasting tress!), wiping up dog vomit, cleaning out the dryer because SOMEONE left a pack of gum in thier pocket, taking Lindsay to school because she missed the bus, having to have a mother meeting so our boys will stop calling each other.....I am not even going to tell you what they have been calling each other, taking said boy's lunch to school because he forgot it, staying on the line with our internet provider for an hour while they tried to walk me through fixing my email and it still does not work!! So if you are waiting for a response from me it won't be till next week so call me:) I can still get email though. Go figure:)

So said MAN better come home in a pretty chipper mood! Or those twin beds are looking better and better. Maybe June was on to something..............:)

Fab finds for $14.99 and under........

Gotta have stuff ahead.....

Are you ready.......;)

First up......

 

Who doesn't love fresh flowers??? This is such an easy and inexpensive way to brighten up a room. I bought 3 of those little bud vases at Target. They were 98 cents!!! The flowers from Vons $4.99 and it was plenty to do all three vases. One for the studio, one for the bathroom and one by my bedside. They make me smile every time I look at them:)

Speaking of smiling......

 

These adorable little boxes are from Faded Plains for $14.50 each and the sea glass and shells are from Pottery Barn. I bet if you hurry over there they might still have some. They were on clearance for $5.99 a bag.

Talk about a  clearance sale.......

Ballard Designs has these two tote bags on clearance for $12.99 and $13.99. Yippee!!

 

Also it's and extra 15% off clearance items until Monday the 17th:)

Moving on........

 

These are just too sweet. Loaf soap is $3.99 a slice and the little teak trays $8. All from Basin.

Next a little Anthro love........

 

Little numbered spice jars 5 bucks!!! How cute are they???:)

 

Initial mugs always a favorite 6 bucks!

 

The tin citronella candle is on sale at Anthro right now for $14.99. The tulip shaped pot is at Vons (yes the grocery store!) for $14.99. Love it!

Hmmm what else....

 

The NEW "Artful Blogging" mag and a box of See's milk chocolate carmels. Cute wrap:)  Anyway that's for later;) Mag $14.99 and the candy $6. What a deal!!

 Crate and Barrel mini colander $8.95. Home grown Roma and Beefsteak tomatoes $2.49 a plant at Home Depot.

Well that's it for now.......

Have fun browsing through Cyberland....

Now go stimulate the economy;)

Finally recipes......

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. The kids started school and Frank left for Arkansas. We had our neices for the weekend and I was sooo tired!! I forgot how much work it is to keep a 4 and 6 year old entertained and out of trouble:) My cleaning crew came yesterday and I am in love!! I may never clean again to be honest!

So anyway thanks to all of you lovely ladies who came to my workshop on Sunday!! Sorry if my bathroom wasn't the cleanest:) But when the girls mother called and said she wouldn't be there til 11 and you were all to arrive at 12 a couple little things I had to let slide. I hope none of you went in my ghastly studio!!! There were pillows everywhere:)

But I hear the food was good;)

 

All inspired by this book.

Get it you'll love it!

Poppy Seed Chicken Salad in Phyllo Cups

Do the phyllo first. It's in the freezer section with the pastries.

Let thaw in the frig over night. Seperate about 15 sheets.

Melt a couple tablespoons of butter, using a brush, paint each sheet and layer back together.

Cut in to 2 inch squares and press into a mini muffin pan. I have the one that holds 24 it was wonderful. One batch and I was done:)

Bake about 8 minutes. 350 degrees. Let cool.

Salad:

2 cups cooked chicken (buy the canned, trust me so much easier and pretty tasty:)

1/2 cup FINELY chopped apple

3 TBLS. MINCED celery

2 TBLS. MINCED green onion

1/4 cup Sour Cream

1/4 cup Mayo

1tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. honey

1 tsp. poppy seeds

Season with salt and pepper.

Mix.

Great just on regular bread or crackers. As I have been eating for the last 3 days;)

Georgia Toffee:

This is super easy but also just as easy to overbake!

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Use a 10x15 inch jelly roll pan. I call these a cookie sheet:) Cover in aluminum foil. Very important!!

Using graham crackers layer the entire sheet.

Bring 1 cup of unsalted butter and 1 cup of firmly packed brown sugar to a slight boil on the stove for 2 minutes. Take off heat and add a 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. Stir. Pour over crackers pronto! Sprinkle top with 1 cup of chopped pecans and semi sweet chocolate chips.

Toss in the oven for about 12 minutes.

Let cool completely then cut. Fabulous!!!

The tea sandwiches were just plain white bread, sliced cucumbers and chive cream cheese. Assemble the sandwich then cut off the crusts and cut diagonally. Use a serated knife. Important!

Cheese dips were from Tastefully Simple. Crackers Costco;)

I think those were all of them.....

I am glad you all enjoyed and I so loved how all your little gardens turned out!! I have got some talented friends I tell ya:)

On a different note there are days when I feel like I should be doing a whole lot more with myself. Like getting a Masters or working 9-5. Like raising kids and keeping a home is big waste of time maybe a waste of a life. But then I read something like this and I swear it was like Phyllis Hoffman read my mind.....

This is from the above book........

An excerpt from "A Queen's Escape".........

Women are God's caretakers; our husbands, children, and grandchildren and countless others in our lives depend on us to dole out heart and hospitality in equal measure, and attend to the minutiae of daily life. And although most of us do it gladly, it is imperative that we take the time each day to rejuvenate from the inside out with a space that inspires-whether it's a cascading waterfall with a quiet spot for reading or a cozy nook filled with those things that are familiar and well-loved.

That's what your little gardens are all about. So I hope you can find that little space and really enjoy all life's simple little pleasures.

This lady built a career on that belief. I don't feel so bad now;)

Earthquakes don't scare me......

That is until one jolts me out of bed at 1:55 a.m.!! And it wasn't even a big one. It was 3.3. Which is nothin'!

Since then we have had 6 little tremors and every time we do children and dogs scatter everywhere!!

I always think okay is this the "BIG ONE"??? That's what gets my heart pounding like I just came up Wardman Bullock on my 10 speed:) Is this the one that will send us into the ocean and make us a seperate island? Is this one where we will be living like Will Smith in "I am Legend"?? Is this the one when my pool is going to crack as I listen to all the water splashing around in it???

Needless to say I couldn't get back to sleep early this morning and to lull myself back to sleep started thinking of all the things I want from the new Ballard Designs catalog I looked at 6 times yesterday afternoon;)

 

This is a rug with a French poem written on it. LOVE IT!!

 

These are becoming a problem:)

 

I need this like another hole in my head!

 

These are mine. The man said why don't you buy new dishes after he got one the other day with a chip on the edge. They are the cheapy Target brand I told him and I think they all have chips on them. They are 8 years old!I got that well what the hell are you waiting for look so where is the check out:) I have wanted these for a while.

 

And these.... well how did they get in my shopping cart???

Have a wonderful hopefully shake free rest of the day.

Brownies are done and Ty and I have a Back to School party to go to.

Oh and he got his braces yesterday. Last kid. Last $2500 check. Hurray!!!

I forgot the link again!! Ballard Designs check it out you'll love it!

 

I also didn't need this;)

Busy bee....

I am being a bad blogger this week.....

This is the last week until school starts for Ty and Lindsay. So yesterday we went out and bought school supplies. Today Lindsay and I are going to Pasadena to finish up the rest of her school clothes shopping. Why oh why couldn't she have been a boy?? Tyler didn't even want new clothes. He says mom it's still hot why would I WANT TO BUY PANTS?? Like DUH!! He didn't even want a new backpack he says the old one's fine and I like it. So there you go:) They also both have dentist and ortho appointments this week. Shhh Tyler still doesn't know;)

The man is finally home if only for a little while. When he is gone he eats like crap. So all week I am having to come up with different ways to make all this stupid fish we have. And I am giving it away to everyone and it doesn't even look like I have made a dent in my freezer!

I have a cleaning lady coming over today to give me an estimate for her and her crew to come over and TOTALLY clean my house. I am a pretty tidy person. My house is always "clean". Or so I thought until we took out the fridge last week and I thought oh my god!!! Or when I look at the walls coming up the stairs. Or the kids bathroom or heaven forbid Lindsay's room!! I won't even get into the baseboards and the blinds downstairs. When Char told me they actually take the blinds down and clean them I was SOLD;) I am not doing that!

I am getting my nieces that I have not seen in over a year on Saturday and they are staying over night. This ought to be interesting. They are 4 and 5. The 4 year old still wears diapers. I won't go in to that either:( We will be swimming and if it's not too hot we have an awesome new park I have been dying to take a kid to. With mine being too old for swings shaped like lady bugs and all:) I got them coloring books and crayons. I also got them both Build a Bears when we were at Downtown Disney. Something special just for them. I am thinking about getting them new jammies but I don't know what size they are anymore. I may have to guess. I am excited to see them:)

Also need to get my menu together for Sunday's Garden Party. I need to get a list and make a trip to the Home Depot too. All on Friday because no time this weekend. I have 9 coming which is pretty good:) Fun, fun, fun. I also have people cursing my name right now for getting them started on these;)

Ughhh and I have to get Frank packed for Arkansas. He leaves Sunday early for the week. It's going to be crazy this weekend..........

So I may or may not get another post in.......

And I have so much reading of other blogs to catch up on. I swear you miss just a day or two and you miss alot!! I feel out of the loop;)

But next week.........

Ahhhhh I will have all the time in the world! Kids back to school (except the big one but he works full time:) and the man safe and sound in Arkansas:) And hopefully a cleaning crew making my house look like new while I read a book and catch up with all of you. I promise I will respond to emails and start leaving my "witty" (haha) comments again soon;)

Well I've got a dog crying outside who needs a walk....

See you soon:)

Oh one last thing.........

I want this.......

 

I also want this room with the view of what looks like wine country on the Central Coast of California....

 

I'll take the wine too;) So lovely.......